By Rebecca Drew
A GROUP of student vets braved the elements to horse around in the Scottish countryside all in the name of charity for their 2020 naked calendar.
Some 94 students from Edinburgh University’s Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies have stripped off, posing in the nude with animals to raise cash for animal charity All4Paws, which provides free vet care to the pets of homeless and vulnerably housed people.
The pictures were taken across Scotland and include horses, highland cattle, birds, cats, reindeer and dairy cows. One picture even shows a bevvy of veterinary beauties posing across the roof and bonnet of a farmer’s Land Rover Defender.
The images all feature in the calendar, When Vets Undress, and were taken by photographers and fourth year vet students, Liv Halloran, Mengxuan Zhang and Nirvana Leaver.
The project was organised and directed by student, Jara Mrdja.
“Nude charity calendars have been a vet med tradition for a little while now. Several other veterinary schools also produce nude charity calendars. The Dick vet has been producing a calendar every other year for the past few years,” said Jara.
“This year we’re an all-female group comprised of myself acting as director and 3 fellow classmates who are the photographers on the project. Everyone has been incredibly kind, understanding and supportive of our project. The University of Edinburgh and the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary studies has given our project their full support.
“I was expecting a lot more rejection when I contacted businesses to work with us. Lucky for me, everyone was happy to participate. It’s a very strange email to have to craft; something along the lines of, ‘hey would you allow us to take a bunch of naked vet students and take pictures of them interacting with your animals?’
“When we shot in more public locations, we have had a couple of people spread up and down the trails to warn hikers and walkers of what’s going on. People are usually really interested and ask us about the charity and how the shoots are coming along. So public reaction has been really positive.
“Our aim was to work with businesses and people that have exceptional welfare standards for their animals and we’re incredibly thankful to Maison de Moggy, the Cairngorms Reindeer Centre and Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World and all the pet owners for working with us on this project.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback about how much more confident people feel about themselves after doing the shoots. My main goal was to produce really beautiful and interesting portraits of vet students and raise money for a great cause.
“The cause is really unique and special. All4Paws gives free vet care to the pets of homeless and vulnerably housed people. These animals offer companionship, compassion and love to those in society who may arguably need it most.
“The charity is totally reliant on donations. They supply medicine as well as coats, toys and leads as well. Both students and staff from the vet school volunteer their time to run the clinic so it’s a great way for the students to apply the things we learn in class to real world situations.”
The calendar is available to order here for £12: www.whenvetsundress.co.uk
For more information see www.instagram.com/whenvetsundress
